AFL Season Start in 2027 to Be Different Due to Venue Availability
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon has confirmed that the start of the 2027 season will be different due to venue availability issues. The MCG, one of the most iconic venues in Australian sports, will be unavailable from Thursday, March 11 to March 15, as it hosts the 150th Anniversary Cricket test between Australia and England.
If the AFL maintains its current structure, starting the season on the opening weekend of March would mean the MCG is not available for the Opening Round and Round 1. Dillon acknowledged the challenges this presents but emphasized the importance of reviewing every season to ensure competition integrity.
“I don’t necessarily subscribe to (the disjointed start to the year), but what I do subscribe to is reviewing every season and making sure that whether it’s opening round, whether it’s teams having 18 days off between games and the like, is that right from a competition integrity perspective, is it helping us for making sure that we’ve got the fans and the broadcast numbers?” Dillon said on SEN.
He added that while current crowd numbers and broadcast ratings are strong, the league will listen to feedback from clubs. “I think I’ve been on the record on this one. We have got complexity next year with some venue availability, so the start of the season will look different. And we’ll review, particularly once we get through, I think, this weekend, where everyone’s playing out their buyers, and we’ll just see. You know, what is the outcome of that been.”
Historical Context: Similar Challenges in 2015
The AFL faced a similar situation in 2015 when Australia hosted New Zealand in the Cricket World Cup on March 29 at the MCG. That year, Round 1 began five days later on Thursday, April 2, which ultimately pushed the grand final into October. However, the scheduling challenges this time will need to account for the three additional weeks the league has welcomed to the fixture since 2015.
Brisbane Lions’ Fixture Complexity
Dillon also addressed why reigning premiers, Brisbane, have been placed in an off-Broadway clash again in Gather Round. The Lions have played all their matches at Mt Barker, Norwood Oval, and will soon face North Melbourne at Barossa Park on Saturday.
“The fixture is a complex beast,” Dillon said. “Their record would probably say that, if we’re here this time next year, I think you’d see them on Adelaide Oval.”
NFL’s Impact on MCG Scheduling
The NFL is coming to the MCG this year during the semi-final weekend, which has caused some concern about potential clashes if two Victorian sides host finals. The game between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers is scheduled for Friday, September 11. However, Dillon remains confident that a game could be played 24 hours later at the venue.
“I think we can work with the MCC and the Victorian Government, the NFL to make sure that we can turn the MCG around for a final on Saturday night,” he said. “And if we have two finals in Melbourne that weekend, we can play one on Sunday, or we’ve also got Marvel Stadium if that’s required.”
Conclusion
As the AFL prepares for the 2027 season, the league is navigating a complex web of venue availability and scheduling challenges. With the MCG being a key venue, the impact of other sporting events cannot be ignored. The league must balance the needs of fans, broadcasters, and clubs while ensuring the integrity of the competition. As Dillon noted, the process will involve ongoing reviews and adjustments to find the best possible solution for all stakeholders involved.
